The effect of feeding pre-starter diet during three periods (4, 7 and 10 days) with different sodium levels (0.15, 0.30 and 0.45%) on performance, carcass characteristics and serum electrolytes levels, in a completely randomized design and 42 days of study, 240 Ross (308) male broiler chickens were evaluated in a factorial arrangements of 3*3. By increasing sodium levels, dietary electrolyte balance increased (200, 250 and 300 mEq/kg). Treatments were compared with a control diet (starter diet with 0.20% sodium). Chickens were fed with starter diet to 21 days of age after feeding pre-starter diet. The results indicated that feeding pre-starter diet during 7 and 10 days increased feed intake and decreased feed conversion ratio at 42 days of age when compared with that of starter diet (control diet) (P<0.05). Feeding pre-starter diet during 7 and 10 days increased feed intake in starter period and weight gain in first 4 weeks of study (P<0.05). Feeding pre-starter diet with 0.30% sodium and 250 mEq/kg dietary electrolyte balance increased feed intake in first 2 weeks and weight gain in starter period (P<0.05). Feeding per-starter diet with 0.30% sodium and 250 mEq/kg dietary electrolyte balance during 10 days showed the lowest feed conversion ratio in second and fourth weeks of study (P<0.05). There was no significant difference among the treatments for mortality, serum electrolytes levels and carcass characteristics at the end of experiment. The results of the present study indicated that feeding pre-starter diet with 0.30% sodium and 250 mEq/kg dietary electrolyte balances for 7 days have positive effects on performance especially in first weeks of life.

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